Car-coupling



(No-Model.) 6

W. ZAEHRINGER.

I GAB GOUPLING. 7 No. 268,766. Patented Dec. 5. 1882.-

75' in awe; Jnvauiar. 625m. fih/ N. PETERS. Phalolhhognpben Washington, 0.6.

UMTED STATES PATENT ()FFICE,

WILLIAM ZAEHRINGER, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,766, dated December 5, 1882. Application filed October 13, 1882-. (No model.)

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, WM. ZAEHRINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Gar-Couplings; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and correct description of the same, reference being bad to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is, first, to provide a passenger and freight car coupling bein g automatic, thereby obviating the necessity of going between the cars to couple or uncouple by hand; second, a coupling specially adapted to couple cars using draw-heads of various heights with the same facility as those having a uniform heightatthecoupling-point; third, a coupling that will instantly uncouple itself when the car jumps the track, allowing the next car to retain its position upon the track; fourth, a coupling that can be uncoupled with facility from the top as well as'from the ground upon either side of a train; fifth, a coupling adapted to be used in combination with the ordinary draw-head, the latter requirin gbut slight alteration. To accomplish these ends I have invented a simple, effective, and reliable coupling.

In the annexed drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ordinary draw-head, show ing the alterations necessary. A slot from each side of the draw-head F is cut out from front, 0 to D, the length and width being determined by the requirements of the couplingshank N and spring m, Fig. 2. These are the simple changes necessary for the application of my coupling.

Fig.2represents the ends of two cars, A and B, whose draw-heads F and Y having come together the jaws c and d of shank N have effected a coupling with jaws a and b of the opposite shank, V. N is a shank of peculiar form, as shown, having a fixed triangle-shaped jaw, c, at the right and another, d, at the left-hand side, said jaws being. of any required thickness. r is a gage-slot in the shank N, through which passes a pin, S, secured to the center of the draw-head. m is a closed spiral spring,

the ends of which are secured to the left-hand side of the draw-head F by studs H or equivalents, and the centerpartof said springpasses around a stud, Z, on shank N, fitting against the sides and inclosing pin S, thus serving to keep the shank N at a right angle to the d raw head and parallel to its opposite mate, V. T is a chain, one end of which is fastened to the long arm of shank N and in line with pin S, the other end being secured to thelower end of lever W. X is a rod, also secured to the lower end of lever W, extending to the righthand side of'the car, and having a ring, it, to be grasped by the hand. The couplings on each draw-head are similar, each having the same equipments, and being adjusted to its draw-head in like manner. a

From this description it will be observed that the spring m will pull the shank N always toward the left, its movement in that direction being regulated by the right-hand end of gage-slot r coming in contact with pin S, in

which position it will remain when set for coupling and when coupled. The spring 0 on the opposite draw-head, Y, will pull the shank V always toward the right and against the pin t, retaining shank V in its present position, and securely locking its jaw a to c and b .to d.

We will now suppose that a train is moving slowly, and it is desired by a man on the right and afoot to uncouple the car A from B. To efl'eet this he approaches and grasps the ring a, pulling toward him as far possible, when the spring or will open, the shank N shifting to the right-hand side of draw-head F as far as the pin S and gage-slot 1' will admit, thus clearing the jawsc d from a b, as indicated by thedottd lines, and the uncoupling is completed. This uncoupling can be done upon the other side of the train in like manner by grasping and pulling the ring a on thelong arm ofshank V. To uncouple car A from car B by a man on the top of A,Fig. 3,he has-simply to take hold of ban dle K on lever W and draw toward the left until the lever assumes the position indicated by dotted linesjjj, when the jaws c (1 will be freed from their mates a b, assuming the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. I

We will suppose the train is stationary, and it is desired to uncouple a car. It may be necessary to provide a means whereby the jawsc 12 will retain the position shown by the dotted lines, thus preventing recoupling by accident when notdesired. Thisobjectisattainedbythe use of asimple device, explained in Fig.3. G is ICO a pawl secured by a pin to near the upper end of the lever W, as shown. It is a slack cord, one end of which is fastened to the ring it near the bottom of the car and running up through the eyeletp near the top of the car, its other end being fastened to the curved end of pawl G and secured to handle K of lever W. Thus it will be-seen when the lever W is drawn its allotted distance to the left, occupying the position shown by dotted linesjjj, the curved end of pawl G will fit into the recess formed by the right angle of guide-bar g at 0, keeping the leverin that position,and consequently the jaws c and d are kept open, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, until by a pull at the cord 71. the pawl G is raised from its fastening at 0, and the spring m again draws the shank N, with its jaws 0 and d, into proper position for effecting an instant coupling with any coupler set in like manner as soon as the draw-heads come together. i

From this description it will be plain that when the jaws a b and a d have each a thickness of'four inches they will serve to couple cars having draw-heads whose variation in height may be sixinches, or more, with the same facility as when the draw-heads have a uniform height. In rounding a curve there is no danger of the jaws uncoupling, as the force of the springs on each shank is sufiicient to keep it always in proper position, the jaws of each shank being always close together and atright anglesto the track.

It is obvious from this description that when from any cause car Ajumps the track thecouplings will instantly part and the car B is free to remain upon the track, as well as all others that may have been attached to it.

Having described by invention, whatIcla-im as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. An automaticcar-coupling havinga shank, N, to fit into and projecting from the ordinary draw-head, F, at right angles to the same, said shank being supplied with ajaw, c, at one end and d at the other end, adapted to couple with and unoouple from its opposite mate, in the manner set forth.

. 2. The combination of the coupling N with lever W, working in guide-bars g andf, with .chain T and rod Xat its lower end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with coupling N and lever .W, pawl G, cord h, extending from ring a through eyelet p, and secured to said pawl, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereotI have hereunto signed .my name.

WM. ZAEHRINGER. Witnesses:

ANDREW HERO, J r., JNo. J. WARD. 

